Thanks to my job, I found myself needing to set up a way to have tasks go into and out of a Python script. Especially when I’m trying to make something that we’ll be sending tasks to over a longer period, I need to have something a bit more solid.

Python queues work pretty simply. You create a queue, then have a worker pull tasks off the top of the queue. The worker works the tasks, then notifies the queue the task is complete, and the tasks pulls another queue. At any point in this process, you can add more tasks. Continue reading “Python Queues”

I recently spoke at the Memphis RUG about my most recently completed project. Unfortunately, due to an ongoing concern at work regarding intellectual property deals with a competitor, I am unable to publish the slides in their entirety at this time.

I spoke on building an imaging system using Ruby, Rails, and Linux. If anyone else would like to see the slides or have me present, feel free to contact me.

Recently, I was asked to calculate the ROI of an internal project at work, and after I ran the numbers, I discovered that not only was the project incredibly financially sound, but the value of being a technical person who can do these sorts of things is remarkable.

In this section, I’ll start off with some basic terminology and give you a basic rundown of how ROI calculations work and what they’re useful for. This is something that anyone with a technical inclination can easily pick up, and is the sort of knowledge that can improve a career, make work less stressful, and can help you make a case for why a project is a good (or bad) idea. Continue reading “ROI on Tech Projects (Part 1)”